In this week’s edition of Best New Listings, we look at a colorful condo alternative in the U Street Corridor, a townhouse in Southwest’s futuristic River Park, and a modern detached home in Petworth.

Colorful Condo Alternative in the U Street Corridor

12th Place is a one-block, one-way street near U Street full of modestly-sized, colorful rowhouses that are priced comparably to condos. The street is relatively peaceful, and the houses can be appealing for those who want more outdoor space than a condo usually has. Though the home is on the narrow size, the agent tells us that it is one of the larger ones on the block. The beautiful landscaped backyard with tall trees and flowering plants is definitely a perk.

This townhouse is in River Park, the futuristic-looking Southwest co-op designed by Hollin Hill’s architect Charles Goodman in the 1960’s. The design is a sort of mid-century take on the future, with shiny silver and vaguely pod-like homes. While this townhouse doesn’t have the cool barrel-shaped aluminum roof that others do, the back full of windows and the floating staircase look typical to River Park.

This three-bedroom Petworth home is unique to the neighborhood in a couple ways: it is a detached home amidst a sea of rowhouses, and it has a modern vibe in a more classical area. Architect Michael Cook oversaw what looks like a pretty recent renovation that left the interior clean and spare, with an open floor plan, no upper cabinets in the kitchen, stark white walls and a general boxiness. There are a few unusual architecture details, like a basement with built-in seating along all sides. UrbanTurf also liked the large, oval-shaped tub in the master bathroom.